December 26, 2025
Get Sleuthy in 2026!
Greetings, fellow Sleuths and Prospectors!
Another year draws to a close, which also means another year of opportunity opens ahead.
Thank you to everyone who gave the Sleuthy engine a try in 2025, and especially to those who took the time to offer feedback. It genuinely helps.
A few things have been happening under the hood as the year progressed.
First, I've tuned and strengthened the code that gathers, checks, and sorts the book listings.
Second, we've added the ability for you to send us notes and feedback on any listed book. Just head to the book details page, scroll down, and use the simple form. That feedback is incredibly useful, both for refining the database and for helping everyone get better results from their searches.
Beyond the technical upgrades, we've been pushing forward on research into what makes an audiobook project succeed. We're also close to finishing the first entry in a full training series that will roll out in 2026.
We're starting with the age-old question: What factors make for a successful audiobook project (meaning, in plain terms, a strong seller)? There's more "science" to choosing well than most people realise, and picking smarter can tilt the odds in your favour fast. A modestly successful royalty share can also earn more than PFH, if you choose the right project.
In January, we'll show you how!
As for me, I took on a few PFH projects in 2025. But in my bones, I'm a narrator who prefers the indie life. So I'm going back to full-time prospecting and royalties in 2026. Not every project is a gilt-edged winner, but I know there's still plenty of gold out there to find.
Have a terrific New Year, and happy prospecting!
Hannibal Hills
Creator of Sleuthy